OT: Champions League Final - Man U v. Barca
We're a little more than 2 hours from kick off of the World's Superbowl. It's a matchup of the '08 (Man U) and '09 (Barca) champions.
Two years ago when these two met in the Final the game outdrew the Superbowl world wide in TV ratings. I think that was on ESPN, though, so the build up was certainly bigger. This year it's on FOX, so we may see similar numbers b/c of the wider reach of network TV.
I'm expecting a similar game to the '09 one. Barca is the superior team and Man U will need to play at its absolute best to stay in the game.
Biased prediction: 2-0 Barca. Cheers to the Catalans!
Hoping for a Messi Hat-trick!
...quite the spectacle. Man U should benefit from the match taking place in Wembley.
You being Bender and not Flexo might be the reason why you don't use the goatee under the "c" ;-) The correct spelling is Barça and not Barca.
Good matchup between the size and defending of Man U vs. the skill of Barca. I'm a very biased Barca fan, and I think Messi and co. will take home the trophy after a hard-fought final today.
I'll say 2-1 with goals from Messi and Iniesta, as well as Hernandez for United
I'm scared to death of Barcelona's team, they are incredible, but I just have a feeling Man U pulls this one out.
Every time they've needed a result in the EPL and CL they've pulled it off.
Rooney scores in the first half, Hernandez finishes them off on the break in the second
2-0 United.
I just hope it's a well-played game without any of the "theatrics" that made the Barca-Real series practically unwatchable. The key to the game might be Man U (especially Rooney) keeping their cool if Barca does start diving.
O/U on magic spray deployment...3
Oooh la la! I want a pair...of shorts like those!
Arsenal fan here pulling for Messi and Barca to stroke the Yankees, I mean, ManU
how's that going for you? :-P
Umm, you should probably research the actual numbers behind how much United has spent recently. Teams like Barca, Madrid, Man City, Chelsea, hell, even Liverpool have far outspent United in the last few years.
You can't count out Man U ever, especially in England, but Barca's the superior team and Man U isn't quite at the level of quality they have been previously IMO.
Was the better team 2 years ago, Wembley or no Wembley, they will prove the same today.
La Pulga Messi & Company will be triumphant , once again !
As others have noted, Barca seems like they should win somewhat comfortably, but pride and playing before the home crowd will definitely help Man U. I think if Man U can muddy it up a bit and play the game tight, they can pull it out. Maybe it is because I was just in England, but I'm pulling for Man U to pull the upset.
Barca is a great team, no doubt, but to say that they are far superior than United is ridiculous. They've gone undefeated in the Champions League and haven't even let in any goals away from home. Also, United plays in a league that is far more competitive and deeper than La Liga. So yes, Barca is great and may possibly be labeled the favorites but I hate when so many people think they are the best team ever and have only watched a few highlights of them all year.
United 3 - 1
You may be right re: the game, but 3-1 would be quite shocking. If Man U scores three, I would expect at least two from Barca, depending on who leads for the majority of the game.
As a City supporter I hate to admit it but the evil Wayne Roo-nay and MUFC pull out the 2-1 win.
Not a big soccer fan, but I've watched Messi play a few times and MAN, he's nasty. I'm just rooting for some awesome goals.
EDIT: Plus, I don't know why, but everytime I see Lionel Messi, I think he's Dominic Green, the bad guy from Quantum of Solace. So yeah...
...with Eric Wynalda and Curt Menefee sounds likes he's gone native in his years in Engerland.
Giggs with a magical goal to win it. Man, that would be a great story.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrOyedpeZnk
Easily my favourite goal of all time.
The pregame has to end eventually, right? The game itself takes at least two hours with halftime.
The kick was scheduled for 2:45. 45 minutes of pre-game isn't exactly a marathon, seeing as we sit through much longer for a normal football saturday.
Man U came out with a flurry, but looks like Barca has settled down and is working their possession game.
however I am about to get on a plane and have to miss the game ... i am really worried about barca however i think man u will find a way to win ... this season they havee always come up big at the right moments and they are finally healthy ... man u 2 - barca 1
Barcelona has been dominating so far...
it will be interesting to see if Man U can actually hold the ball on the attacking side. So far it's been allllll Barcelona.
why Berbatov is not on the bench, i am just following a gamecast?
damn, pedro scores, 1-0 barca
1-0 Barca - Petro puts one in. The dominant possession by Barca leads to the first goal.
scores 1-1
Rooney. 34'
1-1
...you mean:
, 34'
1-1
I do not like Man United but, then again, I don't much like Barcelona either. That said...Rooney can certainly finish. Jeebus. That was the hammer.
Giggs was offsides, but I guess the linesman couldn't tell anyone. There was a super-injunction... Anyone?
Didn't make me laugh, but I enjoyed it.
And yes, linesman should've flagged.
We can't be too far from seeing cards.
Can't give away possessions. Players like Rooney have a way of making things painful on the counter-attacks.
...but you got it spot on, imo. This Barca team is probably the best the world has ever seen, but I get bored watching them, as they wait, wait and wait some more before they try to actually attack. It's like watching a basketball game without a shot clock. They have brilliant footballers (yes, I did say footballers, shoot me), but it's better just to watch the highlights of their games unless you enjoy a bunch of passing around just inside the opponents' half.
Messi at 54'. That was a helluva shot.
2-1.
I told you the only kicker in the world worth a 99 rating was Messi... wow.
3-1 in the 69th minute.
Say goodnight.
Barcelona is controlling the hell out of this game it's not looking like Man-U is putting up much of a fight.
Does the Champions League clearly trump all other club competitions in fans' view? Like say, if Manchester City were to win the EPL while Manchester United won the CL, is Man U understood to have bragging rights?